A MAN who glassed another man in a Darlington nightclub has been warned he could face jail.

Adam James Egglestone pleaded guilty at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday to unlawful and malicious wounding.

The court heard how 25-year-old Egglestone threw a pint glass into the face of John Kershaw in Escapades nightclub after he found him talking to his girlfriend.

Mr Kershaw was left with cuts and lacerations, including a 2in cut above his eye which needed five stitches, following the attack.

The incident took place in the early hours of November 5, last year.

Jonathan Bambro, prosecuting, said Mr Kershaw had been talking to two girls in the club when Egglestone, of Kingsway, Darlington, went over and pushed him.

When Mr Kershaw protested that they were just friends, Egglestone threw the pint glass in his face,

Mr Bambro said: "It struck him with force and he was standing 2ft away when he did it.

"He described it as the same kind of throw you would make when throwing a ball over-arm.

"He started bleeding immediately and was quickly covered in blood."

However, Laura Saunders-Jerrom, in mitigation, said Mr Kershaw pushed Egglestone first, causing him to drop two of the three pint glasses he was carrying.

He then began to wave his arms around aggressively and this was supported by the CCTV footage shot in the club, she said.

Ms Saunders-Jerrom added: "I would say that the video supports the contention that the melee was begun by the injured party."

Magistrates adjourned the case until April 20 so sentencing reports could be made.

The chairman of the bench, Colin Beadle, said: "We think it is so serious that only a custodial sentence is warranted.

"However, that doesn't mean that the sentencing bench will have the same opinion as us."